The blaring sirens woke him.

The moment he opened his eyes, a scream burst from his mouth as pain shot through his entire body.

The aftermath of the towel incident was severe.

Jiwon swallowed painkillers before barely managing to sit up in bed.

Last night, the remaining eight of them had each been isolated in solitary rooms for nearly an hour of "mental education." Though they called it mental education, all it entailed was sitting on an extremely comfortable sofa and watching one of the facility’s in-house educational videos.

Truthfully, he wasn’t sure whether it had been an hour or two. There were no clocks in the room, so they had no choice but to believe the staff's words.

After that, they returned to their rooms and went to bed early.

He thought he’d gotten decent sleep, so the education must have ended quickly.

But something about it left him unsettled.

It felt like... something else had happened.

There was something. No, he was sure there had been something.

Everything had spiraled into chaos after he received that word yesterday—former cop.

Jiwon couldn’t think straight anymore.

Everything was laced with questions, uncertainty, confusion.

He couldn’t even tell if he was sane.

First, he headed for the shower.

His chest was bruised, the mark shaped like bite impressions.

That lunatic... Number 3 really bit my nipple.

A sneer escaped him.

Even the slightest brush of water over his nipple made him flinch—not from pain, but from the unbearable overstimulation.

Just one Development Class and his nipples and areola had become fully trained erogenous zones.

It wasn’t the drugs.

Bullshit drugs.

He quickly dried off with a towel, slipped on a bathrobe, and stood in front of the wardrobe.

But his clothes...

Were gone.

The sailor uniform he wore every morning, shoes, socks, even the T-panty—all missing.

The wardrobe and drawers were completely empty.

Staring blankly at the barren closet, he briefly wondered if he’d entered the wrong room and stepped outside to check.

Room 201—his room. No mistake.

The only room accessible with his bracelet.

Then why hadn’t they prepared his clothes?

Still in his bathrobe, he knocked on Kim Yunho’s door.

No answer—probably showering.

Next, he knocked on Park Geonwoo’s door.

Silence again.

Guess I got ready too early, Jiwon thought as he returned to his room.

For the first time in a while, he gazed out at the garden.

It was perfect, beautiful—unchanging.

Ah. I forgot to ask if we can walk outside.

They’d been so busy these past few days, and with how clean the indoor air was, the desire to go out never arose.

Even after being virtually locked inside for nearly a week.

This building was pure comfort.

No grueling labor in stifling heat, no desperate struggles to secure food, shelter, clothing. No looming bills, living expenses, loans, or private debts hanging over his head.

Frankly, nowhere else could compare to this level of comfort and luxury.

If someone asked what he’d been doing the past week, messing around would be the most accurate description. Sure, they’d gone through strange classes back to back, but even that felt like play. No psychological pressure, no forced participation. Just absurdly obscene lessons, giggling alongside peers his age.

It was surprisingly easy to enjoy.

Forget the name Paradise Project—this place really was Paradise.

Our paradise...

The one who recognized their worth.

Wait.

Suddenly, his throat constricted.

Heat surged in his chest.

Unknowingly, Jiwon’s eyes welled up, tears slipping down his cheeks. Overwhelmed with gratitude.

Gratitude for...?

The only one who recognized their worth.

Who?

Sniffling, wiping his face, Jiwon snapped back to his senses.

Why the hell am I crying?

He was just staring at the garden—why had he suddenly broken down like that? It was absurd enough to make him chuckle dryly.

Subconsciously, he must’ve seen or heard something again. Or maybe... been bitten on the chest again.

“Fuck... I don’t know what’s real anymore.”

The line between hallucination and reality was completely gone.

How long can I hold it together?

The thought passed, but he shook it off. Surviving until the main Party began was the priority—panic could come later.

First, handle what he could while his mind was intact.

Short-term objectives.

Gwak Chan and Choi Minjae.

Today, no matter what, he needed to talk to Choi Minjae.

Knock knock. Someone rapped on the door.

“Jiwon, aren’t you coming out?”

It was Park Geonwoo.

“Yeah, hyung. Coming. But hyung, your clothes—”

He opened the door, then recoiled in shock.

Park Geonwoo was stark naked—not a thread on him.

“What?”

Geonwoo tilted his head at Jiwon’s frozen expression.

“Huh? No, your clothes...”

“Oh. Didn’t you hear? Starting today, it’s the Eden concept. Pretty hilarious, right?”

Park Geonwoo chuckled.

“...What?”

“Why are you acting like this? Didn’t you watch the education yesterday? Hurry up, we’re gonna be late.”

Park Geonwoo grabbed Jiwon’s arm, urging him along.

He was so casual about it, Jiwon felt more ridiculous standing there in his robe.

“You’re not taking it off? They said robes aren’t allowed either.”

“Ah, right.”

He’d grumbled when they made him wear practically nothing, but going out completely naked still felt off.

“What are you doing? Hurry!”

Another voice—Kim Yunho—naked as well, smiling as he called them over.

With both Park Geonwoo and Kim Yunho fully exposed, Jiwon had no choice but to follow suit.

Eden concept?

This was insane.

He shrugged off the robe, grabbed his tablet—

“Leave that behind. Didn’t you read the notice?”

“Ah, yeah.”

Was there a notice?

He set the tablet back on the table and stepped out.

Just think of it like a sauna, he told himself.

The embarrassment dulled slightly.

“I’ve already got hair growing down here. See?”

Park Geonwoo pointed to the sparse hairs near his groin.

“My legs and everywhere else are fine, but here really stands out.”

“Same. Guess dick hair eats the most protein.”

Kim Yunho laughed.

“What about you, Jiwon?”

Both their eyes dropped to Jiwon’s crotch.

“Me?”

Jiwon hadn’t even considered it—he glanced down. A bit of fuzz, barely noticeable.

“Still bare, lucky you. Waxing hurts like hell.”

Park Geonwoo grimaced dramatically.

“C’mon, hyung. That short? Waxing doesn’t work. Shaving!”

Kim Yunho chimed in, voice dripping with innuendo.

“Oh, shaving!”

Park Geonwoo pointed playfully at him.

“By the way, what punishment did you get yesterday?”

No one had brought up punishments—Jiwon cautiously asked Kim Yunho.

“Was it rough?”

“Punishment?”

Kim Yunho blinked, confused.

“Right, what’d you get punished with?”

Park Geonwoo echoed the question.

Kim Yunho grinned.

“Mental education.”

“We had that too. Anything else?”

“That was the punishment.”

“What the hell? That’s it? Then why separate us?”

Park Geonwoo scowled at the answer.

“Look at this guy, acting like he wanted me to suffer.”

“Damn right. I wanted to taste a traitor’s tears!”

Honestly, Jiwon felt a pang of disappointment too.

If all Yunho did was watch the same videos as them, it implied more rule violations were inevitable. So much for rules and order—their words were empty.

But he was still relieved Yunho hadn’t suffered. Loose-lipped or not, he didn’t hate him that much yet.

Jiwon saw Yunho as an ally, like Geonwoo.

“Hyung, seriously. I didn’t betray anyone.”

“Yeah, yeah. Watch me never tell you a secret again.”

“Such a grudge-holder, hyung.”

Yunho looped his arm through Jiwon’s, pulling him close.

The gesture ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) itself wasn’t an issue—their bare skin sticking together was.

For god’s sake, at least acknowledge we’re all naked, Jiwon thought, but Yunho didn’t seem to care.

Soon, Park Geonwoo latched onto Jiwon’s other arm.

What the hell is wrong with everyone...

“Walking around like this feels surreal, right?”

More than surreal...

They should be thankful they weren’t all arrested.

Jiwon felt like the only one disturbed by everyone’s exposed bodies—a bizarre, isolated discomfort.

“By the way, starting today it’s sex and masturbation freedom, right? Why didn’t anyone tell me? I almost rubbed one out this morning but held back. Just stretched my mouth instead.”

Yunho opened his mouth wide in demonstration.

“Your mouth could fit a whole fist.”

“Hyung, what good is that? You need a fist-sized cock.”

Yunho laughed shamelessly.

“Jiwon-hyung, Yunho-hyung, Geonwoo-hyung!”

A voice called their names.

Jiwon turned—and instantly frowned.

Han Seoho.

“Oh! Seoho!”

Yunho greeted him cheerfully.

What the hell? This wasn’t the vibe at all.

Even Park Geonwoo looked puzzled by Yunho’s reaction.

“Morning, hyungs!” Seoho approached, waving brightly.

Yunho welcomed him like a beloved younger brother.

This wasn’t normal.

Even if not as extreme as Geonwoo, Yunho hadn’t liked Seoho either.

Geonwoo glanced at Jiwon, eyes saying, What’s wrong with him?

Jiwon simply shook his head.

Maybe they bonded during punishment.

But if they only got isolated with videos, what else happened?

Jiwon couldn’t imagine another explanation for this sudden friendliness.

Regardless, Yunho and Seoho exchanged warm morning greetings, complimenting each other’s bare bodies.

“Hyungs, we’re supposed to head to Basement Level 2.”

First he’d heard of it.

“Knew it. Captain asked me to pass it along.”

“There was a notice?”

“Yeah, just now. I heard you guys leaving, so I ran over.”

Seoho’s tone dripped with forced cuteness.

“Aww, our little cutie. Well done. Butt pat!”

Yunho tapped Seoho’s bare ass.

“What the fuck is wrong with that idiot?”

Park Geonwoo couldn’t hold back—but the two ignored him.

Seoho flashed Jiwon and Geonwoo a quick glance, then scampered off to his group.

Huh? There was one more now. Jihoon had merged with Seoho’s group, walking naturally among them as if he’d belonged all along.

Jiwon tilted his head, puzzled.

“Hey, what’s with you? You sick or something?”

Geonwoo scolded Yunho.

“What?”

“What do you mean what? That little shit Seoho.”

“Hyung, c’mon. Don’t call him that.”

“Oho? Look at this, Jiwon, he’s acting weird today.”

Geonwoo looked at Jiwon for backup.

Jiwon dragged his gaze off Jihoon, refocusing on Yunho.

“You two got close? During punishment?”

“Yeah. Turns out he’s a good kid. You know, Jiwon, how angelic Seoho is.”

Calling Han Seoho an angel... Yunho sounded like someone else entirely. Geonwoo was right—it was unsettling.

A chill crawled up Jiwon’s spine.

“What, did you two repent all night or something? You barely know him.”

“Stop, hyung.”

Jiwon stopped Geonwoo from pressing further.

“Why’d they call us to Basement Level 2? There’s nothing there.”

Also, the hallways were strangely empty. By now, they usually ran into Muzzles or Cops—but not a soul.

Honestly, even if they met Son Geonwoo or Choi Minjae, serious conversations would be hard while this exposed.

Yunho seemed to read his mind.

“Guess with individual schedules now, it’s just us around.”

“Individual schedules?”

First Jiwon had heard of this too.

Geonwoo scolded him for not knowing.

“They said yesterday. From week two, schedules differ by team and person.”

Did they?

So much happened yesterday, he must’ve missed the important parts.

From today, it was every man for himself.

Competition?

Jiwon suspected this since the Manito Game began.

Maybe they wouldn’t keep all twenty-nine together after all.

Nah, I’ve been watching too many dramas, he chuckled to himself.

Why spend all that money recruiting Crew, only to cut them?

More was better—the Party had only expanded.

But the moment they stepped off the Basement Level 2 elevator, Jiwon couldn’t believe his eyes.

Park Geonwoo and Kim Yunho let out exclamations of awe.

The once plain space was utterly transformed.

It looked like Adam and Eve might stroll by any second.

“Eden.”

Jiwon was unmistakably standing in Eden.